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Unusual_Ant_5309 t1_iuflygb wrote

This image is amazing and it stops me in my tracks every time I see it. I am embarrassed to ask though, what am I looking at? Is it solid? Do gasses exist in space?

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PhoenixReborn t1_iufosnr wrote

Clouds of gas (mostly hydrogen) and dust. Gravity pulls the gas molecules together until it becomes hot and massive enough to trigger nuclear fusion and birth a star. These newborn stars jettison radiation which erodes the surrounding nebula, forming the iconic pillars and wispy billowing clouds.

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